VICE President Sara Z. Duterte allegedly received a total of P2,142,369.14 in payments from GenCorp Industries Inc. between 2022 and 2025, her own defense witness testified Wednesday, prompting House prosecutors to thank the defense for bolstering their case.
House prosecutor Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua and House prosecution spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur made the assessment at a noontime press conference on November 11, following the morning testimony of Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay.
“Akala ko nga testigo namin yun,” Chua said. “So obviously, mukhang pati siya, nalito na rin siya sa mga kanyang statement.”
Punay, corporate counsel for GenCorp and Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, maintained Duterte had no shares in GenCorp. Later, she described a separate investment in the Jollibee Times Square branch and payments classified as a return of capital.
“Tapos ngayong biglang merong pang loose investment,” Chua said.
The witness distinguished an investment in a particular outlet from ownership of the corporation operating the branch. Prosecutors said her acknowledgment of payments nevertheless established a financial connection requiring an explanation from Duterte’s defense.
“So the word that I would probably use is maraming salamat at mas pinatatag nyo po ang aming kaso,” Alonto Adiong said.
Punay placed the disbursements at P337,500 in 2022, P555,750 in 2023, P612,419.14 in 2024 and P636,700 in 2025. The four figures total P2,142,369.14, as identified in the transaction summary she provided during direct examination.
Punay’s account came during an effort by defense counsel to dispute Table 39 of forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera’s report. She used the company’s disbursement summary to challenge amounts attributed to Duterte from GenCorp and classified the recorded payments as capital returned to the vice president.
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero questioned the recurring entries, including monthly payments in 2023 and 2025 and a gap covering January through April 2024. Punay acknowledged months without entries in the retrieved data.
“Minsan may buwan at minsan may buwan na wala,” Chua noted.
The summary came from GenCorp’s accountant and contained annual and monthly details. Punay testified that the disbursements were made through checks from the Times Square branch account. Her account was part of the defense’s response to the remaining impeachment charge alleging unexplained wealth
metrosundaily
